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Diagram of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian

The liver weighs four jin and four liang. It has three lobes on the left and four lobes on the right, totaling seven lobes, and is attached below the ninth thoracic vertebra of the spine. The *Suwen: Cijian Lun* (Treatise on Acupuncture Taboos in the Classic of Difficult Issues) states: "The liver resides in the lower left." The later view that its organ is on the right and its meridian is on the left is incorrect. The liver is regarded as the "General's Office," from which strategy and deliberation arise.

The *Ben Cang* chapter states: If the liver is small, the viscera are peaceful, and there are no diseases in the hypochondrium; if the liver is large, it presses against the stomach and pharynx, causing obstruction in the epigastrium and pain below the diaphragm. If the liver is high, it extends upward to support the贲门 (cardia), pressing upon the hypochondrium, leading to panting and rushing breath (Xiben); if the liver is low, it presses against the stomach, leaving the hypochondrium empty, and an empty hypochondrium makes one susceptible to pathogenic factors. If the liver is firm, the viscera are peaceful and difficult to injure; if the liver is brittle, it is prone to Xiao Dan disease (a wasting disorder similar to diabetes or consumption) and easily injured. If the liver is upright, its functions are harmonious and difficult to injure; if the liver is tilted, there will be pain in the hypochondrium. A bluish complexion with fine skin texture indicates a small liver; a coarse texture indicates a large liver. A broad chest with outward-flaring ribs indicates a high liver; ribs that converge with a protruding lower rib margin resembling a rabbit indicate a low liver. A well-proportioned chest and hypochondrium indicate a firm liver; weak hypochondrial bones indicate a brittle liver. A harmonious relationship between the chest and abdomen indicates an upright liver; unilateral elevation of the hypochondrial bones indicates a tilted liver.

The Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian concludes with thirteen acupoints. Starting at Dadun (LR1), it follows Xingjian (LR2) to Taichong (LR3), passes through the intersection of Zhongfeng (LR4), Ligou (LR5), and Zhongdu (LR6), reaches Xiguan (LR7) and Ququan (LR8), then traverses Yinbao (LR9) and Wuli (LR10), emerges from Yinlian (LR11) to locate the Sheep Gland point (Yangshi), and finally treats via Zhangmen (LR13) and Qimen (LR14).

Dadun (LR1) is named at the tip of the big toe (Yinbai is on the medial side, Dadun is on the lateral side). Xingjian (LR2) is stored in the gap between the big toes. Taichong (LR3) is two cun posterior to the metatarsophalangeal joint. Zhongfeng (LR4) is called so because it is one cun anterior to the malleolus (one cun anterior to the medial malleolus, in the depression among the tendons). Ligou (LR5) is five cun above the malleolus (five cun anterior-superior to the medial malleolus). Zhongdu (LR6) is in the middle seven cun above the malleolus (seven cun anterior to the medial malleolus). Xiguan (LR7) is two cun below Dubi (ST35). Ququan (LR8) is at the end of the transverse crease when the knee is flexed. Yinbao (LR9) is four cun above the knee (between the two tendons on the medial aspect of the thigh; take the point with the foot flexed; there must be a groove on the medial side of the knee). Wuli (LR10) is five cun below Qichong (ST30) (three cun below Qichong, where the arterial pulse can be felt in the medial thigh). Yinlian (LR11) is two cun below Chongyang (note: text implies location relative to previous points, typically 2 cun above Guanyuan CR4 on Ren Mai, but here described locally). The Sheep Gland point (Yangshi, extra point) is approximately one cun below Chongyang. Note: Qichong (ST30) is actually a Stomach Meridian point. It governs the area one cun above Shuxi (inguinal region). Shuxi is at the end of the horizontal bone (pubic bone). The distance from the midline is four cun. Zhangmen (LR13) is nine cun lateral to Xiawan (CV10); take the point lying on the side at the end of the elbow tip. Qimen (LR14) is again four cun and five fen lateral to Juque (CV14). Juque is a Ren Meridian point, six cun and five fen above the umbilicus. In total, there are thirteen acupoints per side, making twenty-six acupoints for both sides.

Diagram of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian